Halloween season is a fun time of the year; yet, it is a time when life-safety issues surrounding the public become a concern. We take this opportunity to remind all non-profit organizations, merchants, and school personnel of their responsibility to ensure the safety of their patrons during operation of these activities and events.

Annually, fire and rescue departments, across the country, report fatal fires involving haunted houses, corn mazes and similar haunted-house type structures and environments. To avoid similar occurrences, please observe the following precautions and regulations in preparing your haunted house or carnival:

1. Highly flammable materials such as cotton batting, straw, dried plant material, certain plastics, etc. shall not be used for decorations or construction.

2. Avoid use of combustible materials in displays. If used, combustibles must be treated with an approved commercial flame-retardant treatment. Samples of all such materials must be submitted to this office for flame tests prior to use.